l-gabbard/dt1st/mark2nd
Kudos on Transit Story
The Business Journal has performed an invaluable public service by giving a human face to the phrase “transit dependent” in its profile of Rosa Alvarado (“Rosa’s Rough Ride,” March 30). As a long-time user of public transit myself, I can readily relate to the horror stories she shares about her experiences using public transportation.
One reason for the deterioration of our public transit has been the very facelessness of its users. In public discussions, we are often spoken of only in terms of the sort of statistics cited in your article (“nearly half … earn below $15,000 per year”). With impunity the leadership of Los Angeles County has been able to make its decisions on these issues shaped by political considerations far removed from the realities faced by transit-dependent persons like myself and Alvarado every day.
The tax dollars that fund public transportation are actually subsidizing substandard wages paid to a hard-working class of our economy. This is made clear by the stark fact that Alvarado, who cleans condos on the affluent Westside, earns only $11,000 per year. I hope the next time business leaders grouse about wasting tax dollars on public transit, they pause and consider these facts before laying blame.
If this article can be a first step toward the opening of an engaged public dialogue on the future of our transportation system, one that includes the viewpoints and experiences of transit users, it will have served a useful purpose indeed. I hope such a process can finally begin. These issues should not be discussed and decided solely by insiders and the political elite, most of whom have never ridden a bus in their lives.
DANA GABBARD
President
Southern California Transit Advocates
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I wanted to write and say how impressed I was by the cover story written by Hildy Medina. The decision to personalize this story was brilliant journalism. L.A. may not be Motor City, but it sure is car crazy. It’s hard for people who “live” in their cars to imagine what being car-less must be like.
Ms. Medina did a great job. Without being overly sentimental, she provided the detail that lets the reader know what being in Alvarado’s situation must be like. Not a day goes by when I am not reminded of how lucky my family is for all we have. This story was one of today’s reminders.
MAUREEN CROW
Carl Byoir & Associates
Los Angeles
